Attaching device for connecting electric lamps to current-carrying conductors.



. M. H. FREIXAS. I ATTACHING DEVICE FOR CONNECTING ELECTRIC LAMPS T0 CURRENT CARRYING CONDUCTORS.

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APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. I915.

Patented Feb. 15,1916.

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APPLICATION FILED JULY 2.19I5- Patenfed Feb. 15,1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT omen.

MELGHOR HORTAL FREIXAS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ATTACHING DEVICE FOR CONNECTING ELECTRIC LAMPS TO CURRENT-CARRYING CONDUCTOR-S.

Application filed July 2, 1915.

To all 'urlzom. it may concern Be it known that I, MELCHOR HORTAL FREIXAS, a subject of the King of Spain, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Attaching Devices for Connecting Electric Lamps to Current-Carrying Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for attaching electric lamps to electric current carrying conductors and has particular application to a device for effecting a detachable connection between the conductors and the lamp.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a device of the class described whereby electric lamps may be quickly connected to electric current carrying conductors to receive current therefrom, and readily and conveniently detached from such conductors, and wherein the component parts will be so arranged and correlated as to operate efliciently and effectively under all conditions and reduce the possibility of derangement to a minimum.

It is also my purpose to provide a device of the type set forth whereby good electrica'l contact will be established between the same and the electric current carrying conductors so as to insure the proper feeding of current to the filament of the lamp, and to provide a device which may be manufactured and marketed at comparatively small cost and which may be handled with ease and facility.

I also aim to provide a device of the class set forth which will be found especially useful in sign construction and when used in this capacity a pair of current carrying conductors are formed into the characters of the sign and the electric lamps detachably connected to the conductors and arranged in accordance with the characters of the sign, the devices serving to hold the lamps in proper relative positions and enabling the individual receptacles for the lamps of the sign to be quickly removed and replaced.

IVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanylng drawings: Figure Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15., 1916.

Serial No. 37,749.

1 is a view in side elevation of an attaching device constructed in accordance with my present invention, the same belng shown as connected with a lamp. Fig. *2. is a vertical sectional view through the device. Fig. 3 1s a transverse sectional view therethrough.

Fig. is a view in side elevation showing the device as constructed for sign work. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the device illustrated in Fig. 4. FigJG is a transverse sectional view through the same. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of a sign employing my improved attaching devices. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view throughthe sign showing the conductors and attaching devices diagrammatically.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, 1 designates a body constructed of any suitable material and having one end formed with a prong 2 adapted to enter the space between a pair of electric current carrying conductors, and the opposite end formed with a bore 3 extending into the body a suitable distance. Surrounding the body 1, approximately centrally thereof, and suitably fastened thereto is a band 4 and pivotally connected to the band I at opposite sides of the body 1 are clamping levers 5, 5. Each clamping lever is pivoted to the band between its ends and one end thereof is formed to provide a handle 6, while the remaining end terminates adjacent to the prong 2. Secured to the inner side of the levers 5, 5 confronting the prong 2 are pins 7 adapted to penetrate the respective current carrying conductors when the prong 2 has been inserted therebetween. The ends of the levers 5 adjacent to the prong 2 are capable of swinging movement toward and away from the prong and are normallyheld toward the prong by means of springs 8 interposed between the levers and the body and of any suitable construction.

9 designates an electric current carrying cord having one end secured within the bore 8 in the body 1 and the terminals at such end connected with the pins 7 on the levers 5 respectively, by means of wires passed through openings in the sides of the body and the inner sides of the levers, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The terminals of the conductors of the cord 9 at the remaining end of the latter are secured within a lampreceptacle 10 carrying a lamp bulb 11..

In practice, the handle ends of the levers are drawn together against the action of the springs 8, thereby moving the pins 7 away from the prong 2, and the prong inserted between the electric current carrying conductors, at which time the handle ends of the levers are released and the springs react to force the prong through the insulation on the conductors and into engagement with the wires, thereby effecting an electrical connection between the current carrying conductors and the respective conductors of the cord 9 so that the current may be fed to the filament of the lamp 11 in the receptacle 10. To remove the device, it is only necessary to swing the levers 5 to separate the ends thereof carrying the pins 7 so as to withdraw the pins from the conductors and enable the prong 2 to be withdrawn from between the conductors.

In the modified form of my invention, the device comprises a cup-shaped cap plate 12 designed to receive the closed end of the lamp receptacle and having the end wall thereof formed with an outwardly project ing prong 13 hollowin construction and having the opposite sides thereof equipped with outwardly projecting pins 14, 14 respectively. The pins 14 on the sides of the prong 13 are connected, respectively. with wireslo within the prong and the terminals of the wires 15 within the prong are secured to the terminals of the lamp receptacle, as shown in. Fig. Formed on the side flange of the cap plate 12 at diametrically opposite points are pairs of pivot ears 16, 16 respectively and pivoted between each pair of ears 16 is a lever 17 having one end projecting inwardly toward the adjacent side of the prong 13 as at 18 and the remaining end formed to provide a handle 19. The inwardly projecting extremities of the levers 17 are normally held in engagement with the outer ends of the pins 14 by means of springs 20 interposed between the handle ends of the levers and the flange of the cap.

In the modified form of the invention, the lamp socket or receptacle is disposed within the cap 12 and suitably secured therein and when it is desired to connect the device to electric current carrying conductors the handle ends of the levers 17 are drawn inwardly against the action of the springs 20 to move the ends 18 of the levers away from the prong 13, and the prong-inserted be tween the electric current carrying conductors with the pins 14 engaging the respective conductors. The handle ends of the levers are now released and the springs 20 react and force the inwardly bent ends 18 into engagement with the outer portions of the respective current carrying conductors. thereby causing the pins 14 to penetrate the insulation on the conductors and engage the wires, current flowing from the conductors, through the pins 14 and wires 15 to the filament of the lamp in the receptacle of the cap 12.

When constructing a sign in accordance with the invention, the current carrying conductors 21 of the sign are formed into the letters, figures or other characters of the sign as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and the devices, constructed in accordance with the modified form of the invention, applied to the conductors 21 as previously described and these devices hold the electric lamps detachably connected to the conductors in accordance with the characters of the sign depicted by the conductors and owing to the action of the pins 14 on the insulation and the inwardly bent end 18 of the lever 17 on the outer portions of the conductors, the devices are held against movement relatively to the conductors.

I claim:

1. An attaching device for detachably connecting electric lamps to electric current carrying conductors comprising a prong adapted to enter the space between the conductors, levers adapted to engage the conductors at the opposite sides of the prong, and cooperating with the prong to hold the device on the conductors, springs holding said levers in clamping position, and means for taking current from said conductors.

2. An attaching device for detachably connecting electric lamps to electric current carrying conductors comprising a prong adapted to enter the space between the conductors, levers adapted to engage the conductors at the opposite sides of the prong, and cooperating with the prong to hold the device on the conductors, springs holding said levers in clamping position, pins adapt ed to penetrate the insulation on the con ductors and engage the wires under the clamping action produced by said prong and levers, and means for taking current from said pins.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MELCHOR HORTAL FREIXAS.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. MCCARTHY, BENNETT S. J ONES. 

